San Antonio Spurs escape from Los Angeles begins tonight at the AT&T Center, ends down I-35

by

Manu Ginobili and the Spurs try to avoid the 8th seed, Lakers

For all the trouble the schedule makers left the Spurs at the end of the 2009-2010 season, the last week before the playoffs will at least be enjoyed from the comforts of the AT&T Center and the Lone Star State.

Given the spacing between first round playoff games, it could be the last time the San Antonio Spurs see Texas for some time. Or, it might be just a warmup for an extended stay.

A three-way tie between Oklahoma City, Portland and San Antonio leaves the Spurs uncertain where on the road they will open the 2010 playoffs. The only thing not in doubt is where they would like to avoid traveling to.

“We’re all trying to hide from the Lakers in the first round,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. “And that’s the truth.”

To get an idea of how crowded the final three seeds are, the Spurs were a few measly free throws away from grabbing the sixth seed, but moved to the eighth seed when the Portland Trailblazers came away with a win against the Lakers. In a matter of hours, the Spurs returned to the seventh seed when the Thunder were upset by the Golden State Warriors.

For all the struggles the Spurs have faced this season, they could still hit the 50-win mark this season, yet have to spend their first playoff game in Los Angeles.

“It’s the most competitive year that I can remember, more than any other year we  don’t know who we’re going to play,” Popovich said. “Usually we have a pretty good idea of where we’re going to be, and that helps limit some of the work that we do before the playoffs begin.

“This year is a little different, it can all change in a day or two, then you have to flip the scripts and look at other teams.”

Tonight the Spurs face off against a struggling Timberwolves team that has been looking forward to next season since the beginning of this one. If Popovich has his way, the starters will take care of business early allowing the team to take care of a few other priorities.

The most obvious is the reintegration of Tony Parker into the rotation. Parker has slowly seen his minutes increase, and any question into who the Spurs should start might be moot point with George Hill still out with an ankle injury.

“It’s always tough when you bring someone back,” Popovich said. “It depends on how they feel, what their rhythm and confidence looks like, what the team’s doing, and what the situation is.”

The second is getting key players some rest for what could be a key game on Wednesday against the Mavericks.

San Antonio owns the tie breaker over Oklahoma City, but was swept by Portland, who will be without injured guard Brandon Roy tonight against the Thunder. Each of the two teams have one more game after tonight, Portland against Golden State and Oklahoma City against Memphis.

The Spurs will close out the season in Dallas against a Mavericks team that may or may not be trying to hold onto the second seed in the west. And while the Mavericks may or may not be in position to determine their playoff opponent, the last time they laid down for a team for playoff positioning, the Warriors quickly made them regret their decision.

For a regular season that has done everything but follow a script, the final week of the season promises to be an interesting one.

  • TrueFan

    First of all, the Spurs aren’t a lock to get out of the 1st round even if they don’t play L.A. What is certain, however, is that the road to the Finals (in the West, at least) goes through L.A. Why not get it over with in the 1st round? Bring it on, especially while Bynum is still out.

  • Dingo

    Hoping the Blazers beat the Thunder tonight, and hoping Roy plays to make it a good game. That way worst Spurs could do is a #7 seed.

    That is assuming we take care of the T’wolves, which isn’t a given considering the Nets/Grizzlies losses.

    Anyway, we have control of our destiny in terms of avoiding the Lakers. Just got to take care of business.

  • Tanjavur

    I think it is about time we start talking about our confidence irrespective of who our opponent is. Our game play over the last month should be enough evidence of that. We have had some close losses over the season, had some that we should not have lost and if you count those as wins we could be deciding who we wanted to play instead of the other way around. Hollinger has us as number two right now!

    I believe that the Spurs can play and win against anybody in the first round.

  • agutierrez

    What Pop says at this point regarding who we’d like to avoid in the playoffs is meaningless. He knows better, as the team does, than to give any team added motivation. Quite honestly, he may well prefer to face the Lakers in the first round, but he’d never say so. We’ll be the underdogs whoever we face, so bring ‘em on.

  • VP of Common Sense

    I’m not worried about the seeding as much as the health of George Hill.

    What’s going on here? Does anyone know a return date?

    I get concerned when there is such a LACK of information on a player’s injury.

    We need G-Hill’s defense if we want to go far.

  • Kevin C

    I’m of the thinking that a Lakers first round draw wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world - and I think Popovich is thinking this as well and that these comments hold a bit of sarcasm. Like Truefan stated, we would more than likely have to play them regardless, so why not play them early before they get on a roll. The size of Gasol and Bynum is their biggest advantage on us and it doesn’t look very likely that Bynum is going to be back - if he is, he will not be at full strength. This matchup could also be a much better draw for Parker getting his rhythm back - being able to use his speed to his advantage against Fisher, rather than a possible nightly matchup against D. Williams, Kidd or Billups. I am of mixed emotion as to what to root for in this final week of the season.

  • AP

    I’d just hate to lose to the Mavericks again. That would be so much worse than losing to the Lakers. There isn’t nearly as much disappointment in losing to the defending champs as there is to seeing Cuban gloat.
    Beating both, on the other hand, would be awesome.

  • McMurry Professor

    I don’t know about the rest of the Spurs Nation, but I like the idea of continuing to start Ginobili in the playoffs and bringing Parker off the bench. A little role reversal from some previous years. That is if Georgie comes back healthy.

    Also, how about throwing Temple some love and a small contract for next year. A long 6’6” combo guard that seems to have adjusted to the system a lot better than some of the Spurs other new additions this year. We got our presciption D-League Youth Injection Shot this season and I’m thinking its brought in a few wins (or at least some rest for the veterans).

  • El Ganzo

    I’m on the bandwagon with AP; I would rather the Spurs lose to LA than be blown out by a Mavs team. I like the way the team is playing, even in some of the losses, and am even more encouraged by the solid play of Temple. L.A. seems like the team most likely to get upset not because of injuries to their roster but they look like they are in a serious mental lapse. I mean c’mon even Zen Master is showing some signs of exhaustion; he actually drew up the Gasol 3 in last nights game. Really? Jackson calling a play specifically for Gasol to shoot a 3…. somethings not right in Kobe-land. Regardless of who the Spurs play and how deep they go I am diggin’ this assemblage of young talent. Now if Gist, Splitter, Hairston and Co. can produce than I’d have way less concerns about the eventual departure of The Big Fundamental and El Contusion.

  • Beat Counselor

    I agree with TrueFan.

    As much as I hate to tempt fate, now’s the time to beat the Lakers. Bynum’s out and they are in no discernable groove.

    Let’s take ‘em out now.

    *Hell if all the Spurs do in the playoffs this year is take down the Lakers, I’d consider it a season worth celebrating.

  • Sarge

    Agreed. For all our worries about taking on the Lakers and their frontcourt, it’d certainly be better to take them while Bynum is, you know, not playing.

    Bring ‘em on in the first round.

  • BigJ

    Hey, here’s an interesting ready from RJ about this summer’s potential opt out http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/spurs-richard-jefferson-thinking-about-opting-out.php

  • Big50

    Here’s the thing some of you seem to be forgetting when you talk about playing the Lakers. This is how they do things when they have a good team. They lose focus against lesser teams and even better teams when they have nothing to play for and then they play just good enough the 1st couple of rounds to win. After that, they turn it on. They are the most talented team out there and there’s no sense in wanting to play them earlier or later.

    “To be the best you have to beat the best” is not a true statement. Just ask Duke. You just have to beat who you play.

  • rj

    the lakers seem pretty vulnerable right now, but there is no doubt that they are still a confident team. i would rather see us matched up with LA than dallas. dirk presents more of a matchup nightmare than kobe.

    so is it me, or is brandon roy utterly injury prone? that may be a point of concern for their franchise

  • Tyler

    BigJ -

    RJ is not opting out and foregoing a guaranteed $15M. Not gonna happen.

  • Kevin

    I know what you guys are saying re: Dallas and LA, but I would rather have Dallas.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate both of those teams equally… but something about the Dallas rivalry is fun (whereas the LA rivalry is frustrating, especially with the Lakers fans filling the AT&T center like they do). I say bring on Dallas.

    This should be one hell of an NBA playoffs. Let’s just hope the Spurs play a prominent part!

  • KOC

    I’m with the VP of CS,

    Why the shroud of mystery with George Hill’s injury? Regardless of who we play, it is imperative we have his defense to match up against their best guards. Any one else notice how the opposing team shooting percentage and points scored have gone up since his absence?

  • John

    @Tyler - I don’t expect he would either, but the reasoning is sound. It’s not so much about the $15 million this year as it is about the years after that. If he plays well in the playoffs, it might actually behoove him to opt out and pick up his next contract before the CBA expires, if he believes that the next CBA is going to be the killer that some speculate it will be.

    For a real-numbers example, if his agent is sure that he can get a four or five year deal worth $40 million (8-10 million a year). He would be taking a $5 million pay cut in the first year, but he would know that he would be getting 8-10 million for the next three. But if the new CBA kicks in and restricts deal lengths to three years AND drops the salary cap, the $5 million extra he pockets in that first year could end up costing him $10 million or more over the lifetime of the contract.

    In my (admittedly limited) experience, agents aren’t usually smart enough to think about stuff like that though. Plus Jefferson would have to opt out before most anyone would know what the market would look like for next year.

    Even if Jefferson opts out, I believe it would put us only about $7 million under the cap (which would cost us the mid level exception - only teams over the cap get it). Though it’s possible that the extra million we would have over the mid level exception (in that scenario) could be the million that would convince Splitter to come over.

  • John

    Also, Jefferson says that Hill should be back for the playoffs. http://www.nba.com/spurs/multimedia/100412_jefferson_shoot.html

  • SpurredOn

    Seems to me we should worry less about who the Spurs will play and focus on the Spurs being better right now than perhaps all of those teams. There are only two teams in the West that have championship trophies since 1996: Spurs and Lakers. So we have the team that others fear, not the other way around.

    There is no team in the West the Spurs can’t beat in a best of seven, regardless of h/c. The focus should be on continuing to play well with ball movement, defense and rebounding, plus staying/getting healthy. Reduced minutes for the main guys tonight and win the final two games. Wherever that sends us, whichever seed it becomes, so be it. We’re coming and we’re advancing. Best stay out of the way.

  • Ian

    Those missed FTs were pathetic… and it was the first time I was cheering for the Lakers. Nevertheless I still would rather see Spurs facing some other opponent in the 1st round than Lakers. I don’t understand why some fans are overly confident with their chances against the defending champions, but the Spurs’ best chance of getting to the second round is to avoid them, not to play them. If Lakers were as vulnerable as people think, Pop would probably be resting Duncan and Manu by now, and Portland and OKC would’ve taken it easy rather than risking injury to their core players (and both POR and OKC played well against Lakers throughout the season).

  • idahospur

    Have to give credit to this team. Earlier in the year, the Spurs beat all the below .500 teams and couldn’t beat a winning team. Now, they seem to be beating the good teams and losing to the crappy teams. Amazes me. Of course by saying this, we will be expected to beat Minnesota but will lose but will now win since being predicted to lose…

  • BALLHOG

    There are two teams in the league that are absolute nightmares for us to match up against. Lakers and Magic…Glad one is in the East.

    We dont match up well against Lakers at all. I think Tony will have an advantage over Fisher, but beyond that, tough going for sure.

    I would mention our frontcourt, but whats the point? Zero Depth!

    We dont want the Lakers and we dont want Dallas. Dallas scores too well for this team. The way we have scoring droughts, and with the inconsistency of our defense, this team would be a really tough out in 7.

    Love our chances, against the rest of the West….Even as undermanned as we are right now..

    Truth will be told now though. Now we see what were working with.

    “Ball Dont Lie” in the Playoffs…..

    Jefferson will be the key. If he decides to play his A game in the playoffs, it gives us hope. If not, 1st found exit plan….

  • Cory Clay

    Bring on the Lakers, they are playing horrible and are without Bynum. And let’s not forget that the longer the playoffs go the possibility grows of our players being injured. (No one wants a repeat of 2008)

  • Tristan Wilkins

    I agree with you ballhog. The reason we gonna get bounced out of the playoffs is our frontcourt. We are playing great, at times. That the problem. We have no rhythm. We whoops teams one night and the next no one one the bench can get going. We have a great bench, but when they go cold, they freeze. I worry about TP, and if he gonna get back into shape, Timmy’s knees are hurtin i imagine, Manu is playin great, but he has shown that even when he can score 25, or 30, they can still lose. And Mr. Hill, u better come back with intensity, because our other boyz are winded. So all in all, i wanna play whoever in the playoffs, but is this our year? I can pray and say “Hell Yeah”, we going all the way, but our frontcourt is weak against Lakers or Mavs. This summer if R.J. wants out go trade him for big, a good big. This talk about him and phoneix, get Amare, i think he going to heat though, but we need someone to drop 20, 25 a night and get boards. Or splitter. I know nothing about him, but they say he good. We good with hill, parker, manu, mason when he hitting his shots, and bogans ok. But upfront? Bonner, Dyess, Blair, and the man Timmy D. Timmy the only decent thing we got upfront. So, R.j. turn it up. U not being aggressive enough, take over dude! Go Spurs, GO!!!!!

  • Mason

    Why does everyone want to avoid LA? The road to the finals goes through LA so you might as well face them now while they’re playing mediocre basketball without their starting center. If we lose, at least we can say we lost to the champs and not some overrated Dallas or Denver team.

  • ChrisJ

    I think we should avoid LA until the later rounds…they might possible get upset in the early rounds anyway. Bynum has been out since Mar 18th, even if he is ready for the first game of the playoffs he won’t be in game shape. I don’t think for one second he’ll be able to get in game shape for the rest of the playoffs, he hasn’t even been cleared to run or jump by the doctors. Based on current standings, the Lakers would have to play two straight series against uptempo teams (OKC and Phoenix) before we face them in the conference finals. If we get past Dallas in the first round, we’ll be able to handle the Nuggets pretty easily before taking on a worn out Lakers team. Plus, we need to avenge last year’s first round playoff loss.

  • BigJ

    Tyler-

    I’m not suggesting he is going to opt out…I was simply surprised that he was speaking these thoughts out loud to a reporter.

    After some review I tend to agree with John and could see RJ positioning himself to re-evaluate his future contract preferences. Mo money is always mo money.

    My hope is that he “just” figured this out and now he’s going to be super motivated during the play off’s (lol)!

  • Jim Henderson

    Big50
    April 12th, 2010 at 7:58 am

    I agree, but this wacky strategy is bound to backfire on them this year. The competition is just too good. Particularly Cleveland. I’d be very surprised if LA could beat the Cavs if they met in the finals. The problem is, the attitude the Lakers have has moved from confident to arrogant. They apparently believed they had nothing to play for yesterday, even though there’s still a decent chance that Orlando could upset Cleveland in the Eastern Finals, and could end up losing home court advantage to the Magic with their absurd loss to the Blazers. They’re just reading too many press clippings, and believing them. It’s bound to cost them at some point.

    That said, it’s obvious that we don’t want to play the Lakers in the first round. That would be silly, and would represent convoluted logic.

    Tyler
    April 12th, 2010 at 8:38 am

    “RJ is not opting out and foregoing a guaranteed $15M. Not gonna happen.”

    Agreed. That would be too good to be true.

    What we should be hoping for is first round match-ups with either Denver or Phoenix. That would represent our BEST chance of advancing.

    Also, we better pray that we have Hill. Otherwise we’re in deep trouble in round one, against anybody.

    John
    April 12th, 2010 at 9:50 am

    I don’t think RJ will opt out, but nice analysis, John.

    Tristan Wilkins
    April 12th, 2010 at 11:50 am

    “The reason we gonna get bounced out of the playoffs is our frontcourt.”

    The best line in your post. Someone appears to really “get it”! Thank you, Tristan.

  • Todd

    Did anyone else have the feeling that LA threw the game on Sunday? It seemed like Phil, Kobe and Fish were in on it.
    After making two extremely difficult shots at the end of the game, Kobe proceeds to clank two FTs off of the front of the rim (3.6% chance for a 81% FT shooter). Pau tips the rebound to Fish who is immediately fouled. He then proceeds to make 1 of 2. On Portland’s next posession, both Kobe and Fish foul the shooter heaving a desperation 3. No veteran would do that. At the end, Phil sets up the tying three point try for … Pau Gasol. He is 0/4 on threes this year.
    Finally, after the game was over, the cameras showed both Pau and Kobe laughing. Not exactly the reaction I would expect after losing a game that may cost them home field advantage in the Finals (vs. anyone but the Cavs).
    Just weird.

  • junierizzle

    I’m hoping for the sixth seed. I’ll even take the 8th seed.

    I’d rather have them play the Lakers than the Mavs. The Lakers are the Lakers. The Mavs on the other hand, hate the Spurs. They always take up their game up a notch on the SPurs. They can suit up four dudes from the stands next to Dirk and they would still play out of their minds. Because it’s the SPURS.

    Anyone who says a Mavs series would be harder than a Lakers series is nuts.

    ANy news on George Hill????????????????

  • junierizzle

    I meant anyone one that says a MAVS series would be easier than a LAKERS series is nuts.

  • junierizzle

    @TODD

    I don’t think they threw the game. Why? It seems to me that they would want to play the Blazers in the first round.
    I did notice that they were just kinda going through the motions. They already have the West locked up.

    PLUS, I don’t know if KOBE is saving himself for the playoffs, but he hasn’t looked right lately. He’s the one looking old out there.

  • johnny

    I really dont mind seeing the lakers in the first. It sounds crazy but most likely you will have to face them anyway. Why not blitz them in the first round. I just hope that the team stays confident and ready to play no matter what seed they get. I think that is the most important thing.

  • Dr. Who

    Mavs and Lakers (even without Bynum) have length that the Spurs do not have. In a 7 game series, that is bound to catch up with the Spurs unless Manu is Superhuman and RJ plays like he was supposed to at the beginning of the season. We’ll still get hurt inside but have others have to step up huge to offset that offensively and defensively.

    CrAzY Ron could always show up and jack 20 3′s in a row and kill that team, but let’s not forget cRaZy Ron’s performance last year in the playoffs. He was a key part to Houston’s unexpected run. And BTW… cRaZy Ron is taller than 6’7″ which menas we would have cut him by now if he was a Spurs. Dallas with the addition of Matrix and Heywood present yet another thorn in our side. Can the Spurs win a 7 game series against anyone in the West? Absolutley… do we want to start off against Kobe, Odom, Gasol, and cRAzY Ron Ron??? Why on earth would we want to? Let Portland beat them up. Portland has given them fits all season. Let them pull a 1-8 upset and duke it out for 7 games. We can beat the Lakers, but we are not built for that. Anyone who thinks that is a “small ball” fanatic or lustfully dreams of Malik Rose guarding Shaq during the Cold War Days between the Kobe/Shaq Lakers and Robinson TD Spurs. At least Findog is gone and we never have to see him suiting up at forward ever again. Addition by subtraction, surpised no one mentioned him as a key element to the Spurs run. His minutes went elsewhere and no surprise the Spurs prospered from that. The guards flourished; Hill, Manu, Hairston emerged, Mason… well… most of the guards flourished :)

  • SpurredOn

    Though I’d rather not have the Spurs open with LA and agree that other teams can give the Lakers some issues, what’s this fallacy that Portland and/or OKC has given them fits? Portland lost a home game to LA without Kobe. OKC was 1-3 vs LA. There are only three teams that have legitamently given them problems, to say nothing of having had recent playoff success: Nuggets (3-1 with two blowout wins), Spurs (2-2 with two blowout wins) and Dallas (2-2 with one blowout win and one last minute loss). One of those three is 95% likely to be the team that upsets the Lakers.

    OKC, Utah and Phoenix would be welcome opponents to LAL.

  • Bentley

    I thnk we are talking about the wrong teams as far as who we should face. I’m throwing a curveball and saying we should face Denver. Think about it.

    We went into Denver twice this season and blew them out. And we would face them on the road, so we know we can win there at least one of the first two games and steal homecourt.

    In our 05′ and 07′ championship years we faced Denver in the first round, beat them 4-1 both times.

    Coincidence. Maybe, but I would rather face them.

    And on a side note, I say as long as number 24 is in Los Angeles, avoid them as long as you can. Seriously L.A is playing crappy now, but they are eventaully gonna turn it on. I’m not buying the whole idea of playing em now. let some other team handle it.

  • Jim Henderson

    Todd
    April 12th, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    Yes, very astute observation, Todd. And you’re last two words nailed it: “Just weird”. In other words it looked like they were throwing the game, but it just didn’t make any sense for them to do so.

    junierizzle
    April 12th, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    “Anyone who says a Mavs series would be harder than a Lakers series is nuts.”

    junierizzle
    April 12th, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    “I meant anyone one that says a MAVS series would be easier than a LAKERS series is nuts.”

    No, you were right the first time. Freudian slip? I think you’re the one that’s nuts. Nobody WANTS to play LA instead of Dallas in round one, despite their stupid play of late, and without Bynum.

    Just to state the obvious, not wanting LA in round one does not say anything about our confidence should we have to face them. “Winners” are always confident no matter what the competition. That’s a major factor that allows underdogs to SOMETIMES pull off major upsets. And I do expect our team to come out pretty confident regardless of who we play because we have a coach and three players that have as much playoff experience, and success, of any three-player-coach combo in the league.

    This does not, however, change the basic logic behind not WANTING the Lakers in round one, which would of course also include a preference to play anyone else in the West before LA . Also, the idea that we should want to play LA first because a title challenge has to go through them eventually is patently illogical and irrational if our main goal is to stay alive for as long as we can, which it should, for a variety of reasons.

    Dr. Who
    April 12th, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    A bit of old fashion reason & logic from Dr. Who. Nice job.

  • http://[email protected] notasgoodasioncewas

    The biggest reason to avoid the Lakers in the 1st round is to let Hill and Parker get thier rythm back. Parker has shown signs of getting back to form and if he does the Lakers can’t stop him. Hill would be another big factor with his length and defense. This would also open it up more for Manu (who creates havoc) and Timmy. I believe if the spurs can get rythm going with all thier pieces they can beat anyone

  • Jim Henderson

    SpurredOn
    April 12th, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    “OKC, Utah and Phoenix would be welcome opponents to LAL.”

    I’d add Portland to that list, although Sunday’s absurd Laker loss has me baffled.

    Bentley
    April 12th, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    Earlier on this thread, I said that we should hope for either Denver or Phoenix in the first round. With a healthy GHill, I like our match-ups with the Suns. Amare’s going to get his, but that’s not what would beat us against that team. It would be lazy perimeter “D”, and being too cold in three’s, which happens to us sometimes. Otherwise, it’s a favorable match-up.

    You may be exaggerating our success with Denver a bit. For one, we’re not the same team as 2005 & 2007. Our match-ups are not as favorable now. And second, in terms of our road victories against them this year: in the most recent one, Kenyon Martin was in the line-up for the FIRST time in more than a month, and a healthy Martin, with his game legs & rhythm, can cause the Spurs problems on both ends of the court. Plus, after the game Pop gave this forthright assessment: “It wasn’t their night. They had a tough night,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We all have them and this was theirs.”

    In the previous victory, if you remember, it was just before the all-star break in mid-February. The Nuggets were also without Martin in this game, and you could tell by watching Denver in that game that they already had “their bags packed”, and had begun musing about their mini-vacations. Their top scorers (Billups, Anthony, Smith) shot just 14 for 47 from the field, which is a disastrous 29%. I would not be over-confident against this team.

    That said, I do think Denver still is comparable to Phoenix in terms of our most favorable first round match-up, especially when you consider their coach, one of the best in the league, will not be on the sidelines for them in the first round. Unfortunately, however, I’m afraid that NEITHER of these two teams (Suns/Nuggets) would be a very easy opponent for us either. We’d have to play really well to beat either of them in a 7-game series. It’s just that if I had my choice, I would chose one of those two teams - sort of the “lesser of evils”.

  • Bushka

    This team can beat anyone on it’s day. If we have all the guys on the court for the first round I don’t give a rats who we face.

    Realistically your not getting to the conference finals without dealing with with either the Mavs or L.A, if we get either one out of the way first i’m happy days with that.

    Just bring it on and let the vets do what they do.

  • Ian

    @SpurredOn - those two games out of three OKC lost were very close games (one OT), and OKC blew them out in their last meeting. If I’m not mistaken, Lakers were never that good taking on Portland on the road, and that’s why I said those two teams aren’t exactly what Laker would want to face in the first round. Heck, I even saw a Lakers fan saying he would rather have his team facing Spurs rather than Portland or OKC.

  • Justin

    All year I have been thinking we needed to avoid the Lakers in the first round…but I really think we have a better chance at this point of beating them while they’re in a slump in the first, rather than in a later round with Bynum likely back and the rust shaken off after some minutes in round one. No Bynum/rusty Bynum is a much better scenario for us. Also - when you really look at the Lakers right now they have zero bench outside of a rusty Walton. Yes they have a banged up Kobe (21-70 in the last three games), Gasol (no clutch), Artest (tick…tick…tick….tick), and of course Lamar Kardashian. J.A Adande’s article points all of these Lakers recent misfirings out:

    http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5079302

    http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/5530/blazers-topple-lakers-the-reactions

    http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100411/daily-dime

    Imagine the Spurs confidence level going into the second round if they took the Lakers out? Who knows how far that alone could take them.

  • Bushka

    I think the rest of the western conference was hoping we’d have them in the first round. They probably think we’re the best chance to knock them out.

  • Jim Henderson

    I think you’re right, of the lower seeds, we probably would have had the best chance to take the Lakers out. But that doesn’t mean our odds would have been very good, just better than the rest of their potential opponents. Now that OKC gets the first opportunity, I’m quite happy.

  • SpurredOn

    @Ian - I think your Lakers friend was messing with you. There are only three West teams capable of beating LA (Spurs, Nuggets, Mavs) and two of the three are guaranteed to be in the opposite bracket of LA, until the WCF. This is good news for LA. Any Lakers fan that would rather play the Spurs over OKC has drank from the same arrogance pool as their team or just knows too little about basketball.